Money still talks in Hollywood, and the $371 million success of Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ got their attention. Two new films about Jesus - New Line Cinema’s The Nativity Story premiered December 1, and Sony Pictures studio will release The Resurrection at Easter time next year.

Mike Rich, the script writer for The Nativity Story, is an evangelical Christian who spent the better part of twelve months researching the story. The script writer for The Resurrection is Lionel Chetwynd, who has written a number of television scripts about Bible characters.

“The Passion demonstrated how many moviegoers are interested in faith-friendly films,” said Craig Detweiler, director of Reel Spirituality at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. “It’s supply and demand. As people of faith frequent movie theaters, Hollywood will make more movies aimed at them. They will film it, if you come.”